Speech #1000113077

It penalizes people who have already suffered at Castros hands. in his jails. for their opposition to his regime. It should be changed. and the provision in this bill changes it. The second part of this bill addresses the United States suspension of normal immigration from Cuba and third countries to the United States as a result of the breakdown of the Mariel agreement. Cubans who are not former or current political prisoners can come to this country only if they are granted an immigrant visa. Because of the breakdown of the Mariel agreement. however. only two classes of Cubans are now being granted visas: First. immediate relatives of American citizensdefined as spouses. parents. or unmarried minorsfrom Cuba or third countries. and second. Cubans who left Cuba before August 22. 1986. and who are in one of the "preference" categories for immigration. Cubans in third countries cannot come to the United States if they left Cuba on or after August 22. 1986. and are not immediate relatives of Americans. The practical effect of this policy is to deny thousands of Cubans living in Cuba the right to be reunited with their families in the United States because of actions by Castro over which they have no control. It means that the over age 21 sons or daughters of American citizens. the spouses or children of legal permanent residents. the married sons or daughters. or the brothers and sisters of United States citizens. if they live in Cuba. cannot come into the United States until Cuba makes good on its promise to take back the Mariels. My bill would reverse this policy. and reinstitute normal immigration from Cuba and third countries regardless of the disposition of the Mariels now in the United States. For those Cubans now living in Cuba. allowing them to emigrate to the United States is a simple humanitarian gesture mandated by the terrible conditions of Cubas totalitarian society. That gesture becomes even more compelling when we realize that these people have family in the United States. Our current policy can only discourage the bravery and strength of will required to withstand the psychological and physical assault in the totalitarian system of Cuba. Longterm interests. including the fostering of democracy. are undermined when the impression is given. however erroneous that the United States is willing to abandon freedomloving people. This provision ends this inhumane policy of condemning Cubans who seek freedom in the United States to a life under tyranny. As for those Cubans who have managed to escape to third countries. there are compelling reasons to allow them to immigrate to the United States. First. they have family in the United States. and the family reunification argument is as compelling for Cubans in third countries as it is for Cubans in Cuba. Second. many of these Cubans who escape to third countries are living in a kind of limbo. Many cannot get a job. and must rely for survival on money from their relatives in the United States. I have said that our current policy toward Cuban immigrants and political prisoners is unfair. It violates Americas proud tradition of providing safe haven for those who are oppressed. But there is an equally compelling argument against it. It has not worked. Since its institution for political prisoners in 1985. and for immigrants in 1986. not one Mariel excludable has been sent back to Cuba. The United States and Cuba are not even talking about reinstating the agreement. Meanwhile. Cubans who desperately seek freedom in the United States are denied the right to come here. The administrations policy on the issue of Cuban immigration and the processing of Cuban political prisoners is a significant departure from the historical generosity of the United States toward those who have suffered for sharing American ideals. It also violates our tradition of encouraging the reunification of families. I believe it should be changed immediately. and the provisions in this bill would do that.